Looper-operating mechanism for sewing-machines.



L. ONDERDONK. LooPBN OPERATING MBGHANISM PoR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 8, 1906.

Patented Sept. 22, 1914.

L. ONDERDONK. RATING MEGHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION rILBD ocT.e,19o6.'

LooPBR OPE Patented Sept. 22, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

fwmwm@ l@ MW@ L. ONDERDONK. Loom; OPERATING MBGHANISM Pon SEWING MACHINES.

TION I LED oo'r.s,19o6.

Patented Sept. 22, 1914.

l APPLICA 1 1 1 1 ,703.'

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

L. ONDERDONK.

LooPBR OPERATING MBGHANISM PoR SEWING MACHINES. PPLIGATION FILED 0CT.8,190G. 1 1 1 1 ,703

Patented Sept. 22, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

shown and described.'

sinn srnirns LANSING QNDERDONSK, 0E NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO UNION SPECIM COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPOBATIONIOFVIILINQIS.

LllLQS.

Specication of Letters atent. v

lPetersenserie'.225.19114.

Application led october 8. 1996. Se-rial 1Mo-337,990.

To allu'hom. it may concern: Be it known that I, LANSING QNDnnn'onK, a citizen of the United States, residing et New York, in the county of 'New York, Stute of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'Looper- Operating Mechanism for SewinglMzichines, of which the .following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters' and figures of reference marked thereon. p a

My invention relates to improvements in sewing machines, and While es to some of its features it may be used for various purposes, said improvements are more particularly adapted to machines for making chain stitches. l

The `object of my invention is to provide nlooper operating mechanism which gives to the looper a. differential movement which is especially adapted for high speed work, and decreases the liability ci skipping stitches. y l

, A further lobject of my invention is to rovide a looper mechanism wherein the ooper may be readily disconnected from its yoper'eting mechanism and moved intov a po- "sition for easy access in'threading, in refrnoying the 30 ose. Y p These 'sind other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part fully explained hereinafter.-

My invention consists in the novel parts, improvements and combinations hereinafter looper'or for any 'similaipurln the accompanying drawings which form a part of thisspecication l have illus trated one embodiment of my invention, the same serving n connection with the description herein to illustrate the principles thereof.

Figure 1 is a front elevation ofthe lower portion cf a sewing machine 'with my improvements applied thereto, certain parts being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a top plan view oi the parts shown in Fig. l, the bed plate being removed and the feed dog broken away to more clearly show the looper mech- :mism Fig. 2l is a sectional elevation of the parts as shown in Fig. l taken on the line 3-3 of said figure. Fig. i is a View similar to Fig. l showing the loopers in their exbe more *treme forward position. 1 Fig. 5 showsy a top `plan view of the parts nsf shown infFig '1l with the. worklfplste removed and the Afeed dog broken a-wey to expose the loopers. Fig. '6 is s sectionalfsideelevation of the parts as shown in Figmltaken on'the line 6.6 in said lfigure. ig. '"fiise. detail perspective of the looper carrier ond the ilooperUsupporting' 1'od, 'these parts being separated to more clearly showth'e structure. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the loopen operating mechanism together with itsrelattion to the feed dog and t'he'nee'dles, the vloopers being in their extreme'- baekwardvl-pdsition. Fig. 9 is a 'detail perspective view, similar to Fig. 8' with the loopers in tlieirxtreme forward position. v'Fig. l0is a' J.detail showing thev looper carrier endl the'stop coperating therewith, the looper being shownin its forward posi-tionfyFig; ll-isa-.view similar to Fig. 10,- the loo'per-loeing show-n in its beckiivard position-.1 Fig. l2 is a detail plan view of the loopery carrier'- shoWing-the relation ofthe ,loopersvtothe'needles when in threading position; Fig-L13 'isai perspective view showing in detail-theconnection between the looper supporting rod and the y arm which operates thesame.A vig.-11Jiv shows in side, end and top 'elevation the'l'oopen The baseplate 'l :of lthe sewing `machine is of the 'ordinary construction and hesrising therefrom the overhengingarm 2 in` which reciprocates the needle. har 'cerrying the needles 4:, il. The work'support has the usual Vthroat plate, which servestosupport the goods et the stitchingpoint,which ere held thereon by the-fpressenfoot in the usuel mannen? The feed dog Y. is carried by the feed ber 8 which isloperetedby the feed eccentric QQCarri/edihy the"y ineinshaft l0. f These parte are ofthe usuel construction and. will not be `described in greater detail.` Y 1f A In the drawings l, ifi-reve shown two needles and two loops-rs 1l, Tri coperatingl therewith. .t wil be understood, however, that a single needle and e single looper, or a plurality of needles and plurality of loopers, may he used without departing from the spirit of my, invention. For `the sake` of clear-ness throughout the description and. the

claims a single needle and a single looper 105 will be referred to.`

The looper 11 is supported by the looper carrier 12, which in turn 1s carried by a looper supporting rod 13 mounted in bearings 14 and 15 in the brackets 16 and 1T supported on the base plate 1. This looper supporting rod is capable of both oscillating and sliding in its supporting bearings. The looper carrier 12 is yoke-shaped, the looper beingv carried at the center of the yoke while the ends 18 and 19 of the yoke are formed with bearings loosely sliding on the looper supporting rod 13. Intermediate the ends of the yoke is a collar 20 which is secured to said looper supporting rod 13 by a set screw 21. This collar is formed with spaced lugs 22',- 22 which engage the looper carrier and causes the same to oscillate with the looper supporting rod but allows the Y.carrier to slide vklgngitudinally on said rod.

The end of the yoke` 19 is provided with spaced lugs 23 between which is secured a spring latch 24 by a screw 25. 4This latch is bent outward and upward at its free end to form a linger piece 26. Near the end of the latch is a lug 27 which drops behind the collar 20 on the looper supporting rod when the looper carrier is moved laterally to a position for threading. This latch serves to hold the looper carrier with the looper in position to coperate with the needle in forming stitches. When, however, it is desired to thread said looper the latch is lifted, removing the lug from the collar, and the carrier is slid on the looper supporting rod. This movement of the looper carrier brings the looper from beneath the feed dog and throat plate to a position where it is easily accessible for the purpose of rcmoving, threading or the like. In order to prevent the loopers, when two or more are used, from being moved from operative position while forward of the needles, I have provided a stop 28 which is secured to the base plate ofthe machine by a screw 29. The upper end of this stop is bent laterally into the path of the spring latch when said loopers are forward of the needle, as shown in Fig. 10. `W'hen, however, the loopers are in their rear position the latch oscillating about the looper supporting shaft is withdrawn from the stop and thc looper carrier may then slide longitudinally upon the looper supporting rod, as shown in Fig. 11.

It is desired in the operation of my machine to give to the looper lateral as well as oscillating movement. This is accomplished by the following mechanism: Rigidly secured to the looper supporting rod is a collar 30 by means of a clamping screw 31. Said collar has projecting therefrom a stud 32 which loosely fits in a spherically shaped member 33. This member is carried by a correspondingly shaped bearin 34 in an arm 35 which is pivoted at`36 to a racket 37 supported on the base plate 1. It is noted descent.

that the axis of said arm 35 is arranged at right angles to the looper supporting rod so that as said arm is oscillated the looper' supporting rod will not only be oscillated but will be moved longitudinally in its supporting bearings. It is also to be noted, as shown in Fig. 1, that the arm 35 moves from a position substantially horizontal to a position substantially at 45 to the horizontal, as shown in Fig. 4. The resulting longitudinal moi'ement in the looper supporting rod is'therefore comparatively slow at first, increasing as the arm moves away from the horizontal.

As a means for swinging the arm 35 I have provided a rock sha-ft 38 mounted in bearings1 in the bracket 3T. The arm 39 of said rock shaft is connected to the swinging f arm 35 by means of links 40, 40, said links being pivoted to the arm 39 by a pivot screw 41 and to the swinging arm 35 by a pivot screw 42. The rock shaft is operated by a link 43 which is connected to the needle lever extension 44, as shown in Fig. 1, which is of the usual construction. This link 43 is provided at opposite ends with right and left hand threads which engage the connecting member on the outer arm 45 of the rock shaft and the connecting member 46 on the lower end of the needle lever extension 44. The rock shaft 38 is so oscillated that the arm 39 moves from a position at the right of the line joining the axis of the rock shaft and the pivot screw 42 (shown in Fig. 1) to a position substantially coincident with said line, or slightly to the left thereof. This movement of the parts gives to the swinging arm, first, a rapid upward movement, which is followed by a dwell in said movement when the arm 39 is just reaching and crossing the line referred to. The result of this movement is that the looper is moved forward quickly to enter the needle loop, reaching its forward position substantially at the time the point of the needle is leaving the throat plate, and the looper is caused to dwell in this position practically until the needle has completed its ascent and again reached the throat plate on its By turning the rod 43 it will be noted that the length of the connection for operating the rock shaft is changed, thereby changing the working position of said rock shaft, f in length the rock shaft will be moved at a When this connection is increased greater distance to the left of the line connecting the center of the rock shaft and the pivot 42, thereby giving a greater length of dwell to the looper before it begins its return movement and shortening slightly the return stroke of the looper. On the other hand, when said connection is shortened the dwell to the looper will be decreased and the stroke of the looper slightly increased. It is true that the movement of the arm 39 to the left of the line referred to will cause a slightqback and forward movement `of the looper` but this is an idle movement and the looper is substantially at a. dwell.

The manner of operation of the herein described mechanism is as follows: When the needle is at the lowest point of its stroke and beginning to ascend the usual needle thread loop is thrown out'. the looper at its extreme backward position, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The looper moves forward to take the needle loop with veryqslight lateral movement. After thelooperhas entered the needle loop the lateral movement increasesy until it reaches thef'end of its stroke.l The looper in this movement has moved entirely across the path `of reciprocation of theA needle. Owing to the position of the rock shaft 39 and the connecting link at this time, which is shown at Fig. 4, the looper is caused to dwell substantially while the needles are reciprocating above the work support. it is to be noted that the point of the looper moves in a curved path from the right side of the needle path around to the opposite side. This movement of the looper carries its thread across the path of the needle, and as the looper dwells at the forwar 'l end of the stroke substantially while the needle is reciprocating above the work support, the looper thread extending from the eye of the looper to the previous interlocking of the threads will be held well to the left of the needle, as viewed in Figs. 4c and 5 until the point of the needle has passed below said looper thread. The looper isthen retracted quickly, and moves back in substantially the same path as itimoved forward. The lateral movement of the looper as it is retracted, allows the needle to pass between the body of the looper and the looper thread. The looper, as shown in Fig. 14, is curved from its heel toward its point with the concave portion thereof facing the needle, so as to allow the needle to better clear it in its descent. It will. thus be seen that I have provided a looper mechanism wherein the looper moves forward and back in substantially the same path and acctrmplishes the same result as is accomplished by the usual four motion looper.

As above noted, it is very essential that the loopers should not be moved laterally from their normal position for the purpose of access when the loopers'are forward of the needles, or when the needle loops are around them, as such movement is liable to injure the needles or needle threads. The stop 2S serves as a means for preventing thc lateral movement of the looper carrier relative to its supportv at this time. It will also be noted that when the loopers are in their forward position the toggles are straightened im@ th@ arm 35 is in its raised At this time i position, as shown in Fig. 4. When the arm 35 is raised, the same lies in the path of theA carrier, and also serves to prevent lateral movement ofl the carrier 'at this time.

As a means for controlling the looper thread, I have provided the following mechanisni: Carried by the lever bar extension 'll is a slack thread controller 4T, the looper connected to the feed bar at one side eX- lending across the front end of the feed bar where its free end is slightly deflected to hold the thread on said pull-off Wire. In

the operation of the machine, when they looper is in its forward position the feed bar is operated to feed the work. This movement of the feed bar causes the pull-olf wire all) to aid in pulling oill sufficient looper thread for the next stitch. It is to he noted that when the feed movements are f adjusted to increase or decrease the length of stitch that the movement of the pull-olf wire will be correspondingly adjusted.

Interlnediate the pull-olf wire and. the

slack thread controller 47 I have provided ,f

an auxiliary slack thread controller 50. Said slack thread controller 5() is formed by a wire 51 which is attached to the collar 30 on the looper supporting rod by the screw 3l. bent into the form of a segment of a circle and serves as a cam surface to engage the looper thread running through the thread eyes 52 and 53 supported by the bracket 14.

The auxiliary threadcontrollerbeingcarried d by the looper support moves in timing with the looper and the position of the thread eyes is such relative to the shape of the slack controller that as the looper moves .forward the slack in the looper thread is taken up by this controller. This auxiliary thread controller is of importance in high speed machines it prevents the whipping of the looper thread to the wrong side of the looper, which is apt to occur in such machines.

and together with the slack'thread controller -l-T substantially keeps the looper thread taut during the movements of the looper.

This slack thread controlling mechanism is useful in connection with other looper operating' mechanisms than that herein shown and claimed, and therefore said thread controlling mechanism is not herein claimed, but is claimed in my application Serial No. 337,991 filed on even date herewith.

lVble my looper operating mechanism is especially' adapted for a thread carrying lloopsrrit is to beunderstood that it is This slack thread controlling wire lis The auxiliary thread controller` gives up its slack gradually to the loopers useful in connect-ion with non-thread-carrying loopers, especially as a non-thread-carrying looper requires a short stroke.

The invention in its broadest aspect is not limited to the particular construction shown, as many changes may be made in the construction set forth in detail without departing from the main principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

Having vparticularly described my invention, what Iy claim as new and desire to se` cure by Letters Patent is: V,

1. In a sewing machine, the combination with a work support, of stitch-forming mechanism comprising a needle, a looper, means for rscillating said looper and causing the same to dwell at the forward end of its stroke while the needle is reciprocating above the work support, and means for adjusting the period of dwell.

2. In a sewing machine, the combination with a work support, of stitch-forming mechanism comprising a needle, a looper, means for oscillating said looper for moving said looper bodily laterally and giving to said looper a dwell at the forward end of its stroke while the needle is reciprocating above the work support, and means for adjusting the period of dwell.

3. In .i sewing machine, the combination of a needle, a looper, means for oscillating the looper about an axis at right angles to the path of the needle, and means for moving the looper bodily longitudinally of its axis and during the forward movement of the looper, whereby said looper after entering the needle loop is moved laterally across the path of the needle for positionin the looper thread on the opposlte side o the ,needle path, said means for oscillating the looper being constructed whereby said loo er returns in substantially the same path as its forward movement I 4. Iny a sewing machine, stitch-forming 4mechanism comprising a needle, a threaded looper, means to oscillate said looper, and

means for moving said looper laterally in a direction substantially at right angles to its plaine of oscillation to carry its thread across "the path of the needle and for retracting said looper in the same path, said looper being caused to dwell to hold the looper thread loop in proper position for the entrance of the needle between the looper thread and looper body.

5. In a sewing machine,the combination of a needle, a threaded looper, means for oscillating thc looper about an axis at right angles to the path of the needle, and means for moving the looper bodily longitudinally of its axis and during the forward movement of the looper, whereby said looper after entering the needle loop is moved laterally across thel path of the needle for positioning the looper thread on the opposite side of the needle path, said means for oscillating the looper being constructed whereby said looper returns in substantially the same ath as lts forward movement, said looper aving the face thereof adjacent the -leedle curved.

6. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism comprising a needle, a threaded looper, means for oscillating said looper about an axis at right angles to the path of the needle and means for moving said looper laterally slightly as it moves forward to enter the needle loop and rapidly thereafter to the end of its stroke, whereby the looper thread is carried across the pa'th of the needle and the looper thread loop properly positioned for the entrance of said needle and for returning the looper in substantially the same path.

'7. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism comprising a needle, a threaded looper, said looper having a curved face adjacent to the path of the needle, means for oscillating said looper and moving the same laterally after the looper has taken the needle thread loop, said looper being caused to dwell at the end of its forward stroke, and means for adjusting the period of dwell.

8. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism comprising a needle, a threaded looper, -means for moving said looper forward and back in substantially the same path, including means for oscillating the looper, and means for moving the looper: laterally slowly as it moves forward to enter the needle loop and rapidly thereafter to the end of its stroke, whereby the looper thread is carried across the path of the needle and positioned for the entrance of the needle between said looper thread and the body of the looper, said looper having an extended dwell at the forward end of its stroke.

9. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism comprising a needle, a threaded looper, means for oscillating said looper and means for moving said looper laterally slightly as it moves forward to enter the needle loop and rapidly thereafter to the end of the stroke, whereby the looper thread is carried across the path of the needle ant. the looper thread loop properly positioned for the entrance of said needle, said looper being caused to dwell at the end of its forward stroke, and means for adjusting the period of dwell.

10. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism comprising a vertically reciprocating needle, a threaded looper oscillating about a horizontal axis, means for moving the eye of said looper in a curved path from one side of the needle path to the other, said looper being caused to dwell at the forward lll) period of dwell may be adjusted.

LIJBOB 11. In a sewing machinga bed plate, a stitch-formingf 'mechanism 5f comprising'y y[a threaded' looper, l asupport' l or'vsaid' looper, bearings carried bysaid bed plate .in which said looper supportfisumounted tooscilla'te and tol reciprocate 'longi'tu`dinally,vv 'mechas' nism for moving lsaid'loopenback and' forth in substantially the same'l path, "including means for simultaneously oscillating"andy rei ciprocating'ithe llooper f support backf andl forth in` its bearings -in isbgs'tantiallylthe' same path, and causing saidfloopeto dw'ell 13. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming.

mechanism comprisinvF a looper, a looper support, a stud carrie by said looper support, a pivoted arm connected to said stud, and means for oscillatin said.arm in a plane parallel to the axis of said looper support whereby saidplooper is given an oscillation and a lateral'movement back and forth in substantially the same path; substantially as described.

14. In a Sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism comprising a looper, a looper support, a pivoted arm having its pivotal axis at right angles to the looper support, an operative connection between said pivoted arm and said looper support, and means for oscillating said arm whereby said looper is given an oscillating and a lateral movement back and Vforth in substantially the same path.

15. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism comprising a looper, a looper support, a pivoted arm the pivotal axis of which is at right angles to the looper support, a spherical bearing carried by said arm, a stud mounted on said looper support and loosely engaging said bearing, and means for oscillating said pivoted arm whereby said looper is given an oscillating and a lateral movement back and forth in substantially the same path.

16. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism comprising a looper, a looper support, a rock shaft, means for operating said rock shaft, and a connection between said rock shaft and looper support whereby the 'oscillation of said rock shaft oscillates and moves longitudinally the looper' support whereby Said looper is given an oscillating and a lateral movement back and forth in substantially the same path, said connections beingso disposed that said looper is given an extended dwell at the forward end of its stroke.

y 17. In a sewing machine, a stitch-forming lrnechanism-comprising` a looper, la, looper support,`a rock shaft arranged at right 'angles to theflooper support, and connections between said rock shaft and looper "support whereby said looper support isos- ".cil lated 'and moved vlongitudinally whereby 'said looperis given anoscillating and a. vvlat-` oral movement bac'kl and forth in surbstan-` .h

liyilly the, ysame' path, said connections, being so disposed that said looperis glven an I ex- Ltended d'vv'e'llA the'. forward end` of its maken jj 18.111 looper .and meansrfor moving ,the

llooper into land 'out of; the `needle loopy comprising a pivoted arm, pivotal connections between `said pivoted arm and said looper, a.

tnoch shaft, a link ,connecting v said -rockshaft to said V}'iivotedarm',- nieans for oscillating said rockI shaft, means whereby the oscillatingposition of the rock shaft may be ads j usted and means for movingsaid looper lat- 'e1-ally* during its forward and backwar movements.

19. A looper and mechanism for moving the looper into and out of the needle loop comprising a pivoted arm, connections between said pivoted arm and said looper, a rock shaft, a link pivoted to said rock shaft and also pivoted to said arm, means for oscillating said rock shaft, means whereby the oscillating position of the rock shaft may be adjusted and means for moving the looper laterally during its forward and backward movements.

20. A looper and means for operating the same comprising a looper carrier, a looper support, a stud carried by said looper support, a pivoted arm and means for connecting the pivoted arm to said stud, a rock shaft, a link connecting said rock shaft and said arm, and means for operating said rock shaft.

21. In a sewing machine, a stitch forming mechanism comprising a needle, a looper. a carrier therefor, a support for the carrier, a device fixed to the support and having means for engaging the carrier and osiltioning the same relative to the support, yielding means mounted on the carrier for engaging said device for holding the carrier in operative position relative to the needle.

22. In a sewing machine,`a stitch-forming mechanism comprising a needle, a looper, a carrier therefor, a support for the carrier, a collar on said support, lugs on said collar engaging the carrier, a spring catch mounted on said carrier and engaging said collar to hold the carrier in operative position relative to l`said needle.

lnasewing machine, a stitch-forming mechanism ,comprising a needle, a looper, a carrier therefor, means whereby said carrier may be moved laterally from operative position for convenience in threading, and a stop for preventing said lateral movement of the carrier wlyn the looperis forward of said needle.

24. In asew'ing machine, stitch-'forming mechanism comprising a needle, a'looper, a arrier therefor, a support for said carrier, means whereby said'carrier maybe moved laterally lfrom operative position, a spring catch for -retainingsaid carrier yin operative pcsitlo'n relative to sald needle, and a stop for preventing the carrier-being moved lat` orally when said looper is forward of said needle.

25. In a sewing machine, a work support,

stitch forming mechanism comprising al needle, a looper, means for osclllatlngsald,

looper and causing the same to dwell at lthe forward end of its stroke .substantially while the needle is reciprocating above the Work support, and means for adjustingithe period of dwell and the length f oscillation -of the looper. -V l 26. In a sewing machine, a stitch-forming mechanism comprising a needle, a looper, a

Vitnesses: y

W. L SWIFT,

C. D. CHURCHILL.

Copies of this patent may beobtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C.

LANSING ONDERDONIL 

